World Series of Poker main event draws third largest field; 79 Michigan players make Day 2

AP PhotoThe field of 6,865 for the World Series of Poker main event is the third largest ever, behind only 2010 and 2006.

Online poker may be severely wounded in the United States, but the World Series of Poker main event is alive and well after Sunday's announcement of the third largest field in history.

Despite Black Friday -- where the three largest poker sites were shut off to U.S. players -- 6,865 players put up $10,000 for the WSOP main event in Las Vegas. Sure, it's a drop from last year's 7,319 entries (and well short of the record 8,773 in 2006), but it exceeded the expectations of most poker players and fans.

This year's top prize will be just over $8.7 million. The 58-event WSOP drew a record 75,672 total entries.

Roughly one-third of the field has been eliminated (4,521 players remain), and 79 Michigan players are among the survivors, including 2009 main event champion Joe Cada, who has 58,225 in chips.

Other notable Michigan survivors: Heartland Poker Tour champions Phil Delaney, Eric Stocz and Dash Dudley; Jeff Gross and Nemer Haddad, who both finished runner-up in preliminary events this year; and bracelet winner Dean Hamrick, who also just missed being part of the first November Nine in 2008.

The remaining players from Day 1a and Day 1c will combine today for Day 2a, while Day 1b and Day 1d combine for Day 2b on Tuesday.